Thoughts on Spider-Man

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:24pm

It was excellent.

First, let me preface this by saying that tonight was the first time I saw the musical. I have followed the "metamorphosis" (pun intended) of this show, since its early planning stages. While it would be true, that I went in the show (like many) expecting a train wreck, I couldn't help but think the show was actually really well done.

The plot pretty much followed the beloved Spider-Man story, which I was happy about. I thought the addition of Arachne was well executed. The "weaving" scene was visually stunning, and I enjoyed having a real "anchor" for being chosen. Carpio was excellent, which I think helped. I couldn't imagine having Arachne being a major focus on the show, and am thankful that the creative team refocused the show.

The music was good. Some songs were fantastic, while some were just simply "good." I do not think there was ANY "bad" song, while there were moments the score might have simply been "filler" there were some breathtaking moments.

The flying was awesome. I have been lucky to have seen numerous Cirque du Soleil productions in Vegas, and can say that it is simply apples and oranges. The fights over the audience, and the ariel work in general, could not have been any better. There was one incident where one of the Spider Men just missed the completion of the stunt, and swung back...but he quickly was pulled in by a stagehand as his momentum shifted.

Another funny moment from the night, was when Peter and MJ were talking about stoping an apocalypse, and the entire audience started hysterically laughing and clapping, obviously in reference to the doomsday theories of today.

In the end, I was proud to give this show a standing ovation. I had a great time. I'm happy to answer any questions, if anyone wants to hear plot updates, ect.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:59pm

pun intended

Spiders don't go through metamorphosis.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:13am

Did they turn into mermaids during the ariel work?

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:19am

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Glad to hear that you liked the show! Where did you sit?

And in particular what were your favorite numbers from the show?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:24am

I'm glad you liked it :) I will be seeing this at the end of July and I cannot wait! I do have a question thou, how is the transformation at the end of act 1 handled with the green goblin?

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:26am

Norman Osborne steps into the machine and gets strapped in. And then he is spinning inside and there is smoke and green lighting. And then when he comes out he is transformed into the Green Goblin. It's actually a really fascinating and quick costume change.

Will it be your first time seeing the show in July?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:32am

That's the same as it was when I saw it about a week before the hiatus. I just assumed that the first time we actually see the Green Goblin, it's a double and not Patrick Page (or whoever is in his track that day).

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:42am

Ky3l - Yes! I have listened to both 1.0 and 2.0, and I love the music, but I have not seen the show yet. I'm excited! How's the view from the balcony?

[willep]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 1:06am

^^Where have you listened to them at? O

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 2:01am

@bwayphreak --- OH! You are sitting in the balcony?! That is exactly where I sat! I sat in the front row of balcony in seats 2 & 4 with my mom. It was right in front of the "launch pad" where Spider-Man lands several times and also takes off. It is also where Reeve Carney lands at the very end of the musical.

I absolutely loved where I sat because Reeve landing right in front of me at the end of the show made all my childhood comic book geek dreams come true! I felt as if my favorite superhero was actually REAL! :)

You will have no problem seeing anything though. What is so neat about all the aerial sequences is that they take flight in all three levels of the theatre so that nobody misses out on anything. Let me know what you think after you see the show!


@LizzieCurry --- I read an interview of Patrick Page and he said that it wasn't a body double and that it was actually him!

Posted: 5/22/11 at 11:51am

I actually enjoyed the show A LOT :)

[Luisasabh]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:27pm

Having seen the trainwreck the show was before, I was pleasantly surprised!

I went with a friend who had not seen the show before, and he really enjoyed it!

I was surprised how they managed to rearrange the plot - and it actually makes sense now! I was never a fan of the music, but somehow they manged to make it a little more pleasant to listen to and to understand.

The cast seemed much happier with the show and the audience seemed to enjoy it very much!
To me, Arachne still doesn't make much sense, but it's better than it used to be! Other than that, everything was ine plot-wise!
I really liked how they gave the Green Goblin the song about all the freaks living in NY and specially how they make fun of the show! Also, they added some interactions with the audience which was really funny!

In the end, I was really happy they managed to somewhat fix the show - for the sake of the $75 million dollars and all the people involved in it! As a theater fan, I was rooting for the show and I was happy to give them a standing ovation at the end!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 1:21pm

^

At first I didn't like "Freak Like Me," but it's slowly growing on me. It was stuck in my head all day yesterday so I guess I like it now.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 2:11pm

If The World Should End is eternally stuck in my head...haha. I really hope that a Cast Recording for the show will be released soon.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 3:24pm

I saw it for the first time last week and enjoyed it as well. I was also expecting a train wreck. It isn't South Pacific, but it was visually stunning and acted well.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 6:47pm

I'm hoping they'll announce a cast recording soon after the opening? If they're going to do it at all I can't imagine them waiting much longer.

[stagedoorslacker]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 7:32pm

Saw the matinee today. I had a really great time. I saw Julie's version last December and thought it was a mess with flashes of creativity. Hats off to the new creative team. It feels like a new show that has been paired down and the story focused in a way that really works. The beautiful stage pictures that Julie created remain. I can hear the lyrics now to the song. A big help!

I am visiting from Dallas and remember seeing playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's work he did at Dallas Theater Center on Superman. You can tell his hands are all over this production. In fact I wonder if he tossed in a few structure/story ideas from Superman. The book is what saves this show.

The cast also looks like they are actually having a pretty good time up there. They deserve a medal for I sure the hell they have been through. I hope they pull this off!!

The new work is paying off in a big way. Standing ovation at the end.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 7:45pm

I like the new book a lot. I think Roberto did an amazing job working within the confines of what already existed and one has to wonder what the show would be like had he been there from the beginning. I'm familiar with his work on Superman and I agree that you can see him all over this new version.

There is a bit of a plot hole now that they changed the lyric in "Rise Above" about Arachne weaving the suit for Peter. As far as I can tell it doesn't get explained where he gets the suit from in the new script where as before, as silly as it was, at least it was mentioned. What's the point of that whole weaving prologue if she doesn't make the suit for him? I'm not exactly sure that one can weave spandex, but whatever... Updated On: 5/22/11 at 07:45 PM

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 10:27pm

It seems as if the cast has been receiving a standing ovation every night since its return...kudos to them!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 11:16pm

Kudos indeed. Weren't they rehearsing the new version during the day while performing the old version at night before they shut down to tech the new version? That's crazy that they were able to work on both simultaneously. I'd be sooo confused.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 1:17am

I know right? Honestly though, they have a really talented cast on board. Jennifer Damiano is phenomenal, and Patrick Page is absolutely perfect and WOW-d me with his portrayal of the Green Goblin. And Reeve Carney's vocals is just on point with Bono and The Edge's score.

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 1:44am

I TOO just LOVE and ADORE the TONY-WORTHY BOOK AND SCORE! I found the whole evening to be VISUALLY ENCHANTING...DAZZLING. Bono and the Edge have contributed the STELLAR SONGS. SPECTACULAR! SUCCEEDS THUNDEROUSLY! I was RIVETED! I'll give you the rest of my feedback once the check from the Spider-Man PR team clears

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 1:55am

I'd settle for one of those cool 80 dollar hoodies.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 2:24am

I know right? I love the merchandise from this show! Updated On: 5/24/11 at 02:24 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 3:14am

Do they have new merchandise and t shirts now? I remember them talking about hiring a new merchandising artist a while ago.